Bulk changing 'created date' using applescript?

[Davos119 1]

Hi. 

 

I'm hoping someone might be able to help me with something: I haven't seen this particular issue described elsewhere, but I'd be surprised if it was unique.

 

I went paperless a couple of years ago. But until now, all my document filing has been outside of evernote (which has been used for pretty much everything else). I now want to change the system. 

 

I have a 'filing cabinet' on my mac containing just over 1,500 PDFs which I now want to import into my 'filing cabinet' notebook in Evernote. That's fine, but the cabinet is sorted by the PDF created date. I want the corresponding notes in Evernote to have the same 'created date' as the PDFs so that my filing remains seamless. 

 

I'm aware that there are various workarounds, but I am just wondering whether it's possible to maybe use AppleScript to automate the process? I want to somehow import xxx.PDF into the 'inbox' notebook and have Evernote check the document's created date and change its own to match it. 

 

Sounds simple, but might be complex. I don't know AppleScript - I'm in the process of trying to learn more - but in the meantime if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd be really grateful. 

 

 

 

 

[Sentinel 195]

Hi Devos119,

Veritrope.com are the only ones I am aware of that works with Applescript & Evernote.  If you find another, please let me know.  I am interested in learning more about Applescript as well.  I also found the links below.  I am hoping they will help me and they may help you.

 

Beginner: http://macosxautomation.com/applescript/firsttutorial/index.html

Browse Here:  http://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/learn.html

 

Good Luck and I will keep an eye on this post, so please let me know what you learn.  Thanks.

[JMichaelTX 4,117]

Hi Devos119,

Veritrope.com are the only ones I am aware of that works with Applescript & Evernote.  If you find another, please let me know.  I am interested in learning more about Applescript as well.  I also found the links below.  I am hoping they will help me and they may help you.

 

Beginner: http://macosxautomation.com/applescript/firsttutorial/index.html

Browse Here:  http://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/learn.html

 

Good Luck and I will keep an eye on this post, so please let me know what you learn.  Thanks.

 

The Veritrope.com script works great -- I've been using it for years now.

 

But you will have to make an easy mod to set the Note Created Date to the File Created Date.

Let me know if you have trouble doing this, and I'll dig out my script mods.

[Davos119 1]

Thank you both!

 

http://veritrope.com/code/date-sensitive-file-importer/

 

Date Sensitive File Importer. That was exactly what I was looking for. 

 

I still haven't learnt much AppleScript yet, but once I've done all my importing I'll have a closer look at the code and see what I can work out. For now though, it's working, which is excellent. 

 

Thanks again. 

[Sentinel 195]

Outstanding!  Thank you for the link.  I shall grab it in the event I need it in the future.

[JMichaelTX 4,117]

Thank you both!

 

http://veritrope.com/code/date-sensitive-file-importer/

 

Date Sensitive File Importer. That was exactly what I was looking for. 

 

I still haven't learnt much AppleScript yet, but once I've done all my importing I'll have a closer look at the code and see what I can work out. For now though, it's working, which is excellent. 

 

Thanks again. 

 

You need to modify the script BEFORE importing to import AND set the Note Created Date to the File Created Date.

I don't know if it is possible to do this AFTER the import.

[Davos119 1]

 

Thank you both!

 

http://veritrope.com/code/date-sensitive-file-importer/

 

Date Sensitive File Importer. That was exactly what I was looking for. 

 

I still haven't learnt much AppleScript yet, but once I've done all my importing I'll have a closer look at the code and see what I can work out. For now though, it's working, which is excellent. 

 

Thanks again. 

 

You need to modify the script BEFORE importing to import AND set the Note Created Date to the File Created Date.

I don't know if it is possible to do this AFTER the import.

 

 

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. I've tested the script 'as is' from the site and it's worked for me straight off the bat, no modifications required. 

 

It creates a notebook with the same name as the folder you select, and then it imports all the files within that folder. The file name becomes the note title, and the note 'created date' and 'updated date' are changed to reflect the file's 'created' and 'modified' dates. 

 

Perfect for my needs. I hope I'm not missing something.... 

 

But anyway, thanks again. 

[JMichaelTX 4,117]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. I've tested the script 'as is' from the site and it's worked for me straight off the bat, no modifications required. 

 

It creates a notebook with the same name as the folder you select, and then it imports all the files within that folder. The file name becomes the note title, and the note 'created date' and 'updated date' are changed to reflect the file's 'created' and 'modified' dates. 

 

Perfect for my needs. I hope I'm not missing something.... 

 

But anyway, thanks again. 

 

 

 

That's great!  Sounds like they have modified the base Veritrope script since I last downloaded it.

Looks like you're good to go!